Parachute-kite attachment



Feb. 11, 1958 L.'J. TOTH PARACHUTE-KITE ATTACHMENT Filed Jan. 22, 1954 INVENTOR.

LAMBERT JT T'e'r'H United States Patent PARACHUTE-KITE ATTACHMENT Lambert J. Toth, Fort Wayne, Incl.

Application January 22, 1954, Serial No. 405,532

2 Claims. (Cl. 244-155) This invention relates to a toy parachute attachment for kites and to means for automatically effecting release of a toy parachute from a kite while the same is in flight.

Heretofore many different forms of devices have been evolved for connecting parachutes to kites or the like, the same generally involving complicated structure and necessitating mechanism actuated from the ground for releasing the parachute after a time and when the person flying the kite operated the same.

Usually such prior devices involved a substantial rebuilding of the kite itself, including parts which could only be specially fabricated and not used as an attachment for any kite in particular.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a device which may be attached to any kite at any time or removed therefrom likewise, which device is simply and automatically operated after a predetermined period of time.

It is a principal object of this invention therefore to provide a simple attachment for kites or the like whereby a toy parachute may be releasably connected to such attachment and by the manner of manipulation of the parts thereof, the said toy parachute may be released after a predetermined period of time without the necessity of further act on the part of the operator.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a toy parachute attachment which may be constructed of simple parts including readily available wire members and easily fastened to kites, together with a suction cup which includes elements adapted to release the parachute after a predetermined period of time has elapsed.

Yet a further object of this invention, is to provide a toy parachute attachment of the general nature above described, which includes a suction cup as indicated,.

which suction cup may be equipped with a suitable spring member, for contact with a surface to which the suction cup may be affixed, which spring member depending upon the tension imposed thereon will cause the release of the device after a predetermined period of time, and such period of time may be varied within substantial limits.

Other and further objects of the invention will be understood from a consideration of the specification appended hereto and shown in the drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a rear view of the conventional form of kite showing the general method of mounting the attachment or device thereon.

Figure 2 is a sectional view in elevation, showing the device in place on the kite and the parachute suspended therefrom.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the various parts of the device, the same being shown in position prior to release.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, the device being shown in its released position.

While the device here shown is particularly suitable for use with kites, it should be understood that it is not necessarily limited to such use, but may be used on any similar ice support which may be raised off of the ground as will be apparent.

Turning therefore to a consideration of Figure 1 in which the device is shown as being mountedon a kite generally indicated at 1, which includes the cross member 2, the vertical member 3 usually connected thereto, the covering of paper 3a or the like being fastened as usual. A bridle string 4 is provided as is necessary in kites, the same being attached to the upright member 3 in any preferred manner in accordance with known practice. The releasing device is generally indicated at 5, and is mounted behind the covering 3a, having supported thereon the parachute 6 with the usual parts of the parachute including the strings or wires 7 and the toy figure such as 8 suspended therefrom. ,7

In order to more clearly show the form which. the device here described may assume, reference is had to Figure 3 wherein a part 9 is shown as being afiixed to the upright 3 of the kite by staples 9a or the like, the part ,9 including a flat smooth surfaced portion 10, which maybe formed of any preferred material.

Likewise affixed to the upright, and below the member 9 is an arm 11, which arm 11 is preferably wire or the like, and suitably provided at its lower extremity with an eye 12 which may be formed by bending the wire as will be apparent, the arm 11 thus being equipped with a bearing portion which may be allixed to the upright 3 by means of a screw 13. Adjacent the eye 12, the end of the arm 11 is formed as shown in Figure 3 so as to extend generally in the same direction as the body of the arm 11 and includes a hook portion 14 thereon. The hook portion 14, when in the position shown in Figure 3 will support the parachute 6, which is provided with a loop or ring 15 at its upper portion, which loop or ring 15 may be slipped over portion 14 previously mentioned, and thus support the parachute on the kite.

At the outer end of the arm 11, a suction device generally designated A is shown, the same comprising a suction cup 16 of generally conventional form, the cup being equipped with a bolt and nut 17 and 17a respectively. A wire loop member 18 is connected to the cup by means of the nut 17a, the loop portion surrounding and being slidable along the arm 11 as will be understood.

The outer end of the arm 11 is preferably provided with a loop 19, to prevent the loop portion of the member 18 of the suction cup 16 from becoming disengaged from the arm 11.

Within the suction cup 16 is a coil spring 20, which coil spring 20 may be fastened by the head of the bolt 17 to the body of the suction cup and of suitable length so as to engage the surface 10 previously referred to, under conditions to be described.

In view of the foregoing description of the several parts which comprise the device or attachment, it will be understood that by suitable manipulation of the suction cup 16, the same may be brought into engagement with the surface 10, and by pressure applied externally, cause a compressing of the spring 20 within the suction cup. The degree to which the spring 20 is compressed will determine the period of time that the suction cup 16 remains in engagement with the surface 10, and as will be understood this may be varied within substantial limits.

In view of the above, when it is desired to prepare the kite for flight, the suction cup will be brought into engagement with the surface 10, suitable pressure being applied thereto, so as to cause the suction cup to adhere to the surface and at the same time compressing the spring 20. Thereafter the parachute toy will be affixed by its loop 15, being brought into engagement with the hook portion 14 of the arm 11, and subsequently the kite 1 may be put into flight.

At the end of a period of time which may be for ex- Patented Feb. 11, 1958 ample five minutes the spring 20 will cause the suction cup 16 to be forced outwardly from the surface 10, and thus become disengaged therefrom. As shown in Figure 4 the result of this disengagement will cause the arm 11 to swing in a counterclockwise direction, whereby the book 14 will permit the loop 15 of the parachute 6 to be disengaged therefrom, and as indicated in Figure 2 the parachute will then drop and proceed to the ground.

It should be understood that any form of parachute 6 may be used, which will be susceptible of being attached in the manner as above indicated by means of the automatically releasing attachment to a kite, or in the alternative a long pole or other device may be used, whereby the said parachute may be raised sufficiently far from the ground to permit the same to open When the device 5 is actuated for release.

In view of the foregoing it will be understood that a simple and yet novel form of parachute attachment for kites or the like has been provided, the same being automatically operable after a predetermined period of time. The device may be comprised of simple elements and readily attached or detached from a kite or other part whereby the parachute connected therewith may be raised into the air and subsequently permitted to float to the ground.

I claim:

1. In a toy of the class described, in combination, a kite including a support, an arm pivotally connected to said support, said arm including a portion on which a parachute may be suspended, a suction cup member mounted on said arm, a part including a surface to which the cup will adhere by suction on said support for engagement by said cup and an element comprising a spring carried by the cup and adapted to engage said part for automatically eflecting disengagement of said member and part by overcoming the suction a pre-determined period of time after being engaged to effect release of a parachute suspended from said portion.

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spring is mounted in the cup, and engages the surface when the cup is engaged with the surface, and the period of time during which the cup will remain engaged with the surface may be varied in accordance with the tension imposed on the spring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,059,634 Fisher Nov. 3, 1936 

